quadcopter

Many technology fans, including DARPA think that brainlike neuromorphic chips bleeping digital spikes at each other could provide the answer to autonomous vehicle control — if only someone knew what exactly should generate the spikes they use. The latest brainstorm, before turning over the keys of life to these chips, is to put them into drones and see what happens.

Whether you’ve simply been jealous of your friend’s Parrot drone, or afraid to use yours in the house, Parrot’s new MiniDrone and Jumping Sumo may be your answer. A pair of really fun new tosy from Parrot bring the fun of drone flying to all ages and all environments.

Amazon, the company that already automates many of its warehouses and fulfillment centers with robot workers, has unveiled Amazon Prime Air — a new delivery method that will see autonomous quadcopters deliver your order within 30 minutes.

The University of Nebraska’s NIMBUS Lab has developed unmanned UAV quadcopters that can fly around and wirelessly recharge devices. Ostensibly these UAVs have the rather unromantic purpose of recharging remote sensors — but it also means that, in the future, you might be able to call out a quadcopter to recharge your mobile phone.